5. Daisy
Daisy
Christmas Morning
“ I t looks like the cutest little reindeers are ready for the day!” Jeremy declared happily as he sauntered through the door and into the nest where I was snuggled into Nate’s bare chest. Despite having slept amazingly, I wanted nothing more than to stay snuggled up in the nice, warm nest all day.
The only thing that was strong enough to convince me to clamber out of the nest was the sight of my daughters wearing reindeer onesies, complete with little antlers, toddling after Devon.
“Oh, there’re my babies!” I cooed, sitting up and opening my arms.
The girls, upon seeing me, toddled over, scrambling into the nest and into my lap. “Merry Christmas, my babies,” I cooed.
“Do you think we should feed them breakfast first or start tackling the massive pile of gifts that's waiting for them outside?” Nate asked in a sleepy voice, plucking Petunia out of my arms and snuggling her. “I swear she smells more and more like you very day,” he murmured.
“Already considered that. In the living room, there is a selection of easy to munch on finger foods and snacks for both babies and parents.” Jeremy smirked. He had thought every little thing through. Probably because he was so excited to see the girls opening their gifts and he didn't want anything to delay it.
I looked down at Poppy, curled up in my lap, looking up at me lovingly. “I guess daddy has spoken then! Let mama get her jammies on and we’ll go open presents!”
“Would just like to state for the record, I'm very happy with how you are dressed now,” Devon said, crawling into bed next to me.
I was wearing one of his T-shirts.
Nothing else.
I glowered playfully at him. “While you may like it, I think Christmas morning requires something a little less naked.”
Devon popped his head up as Petunia crawled out of Nate’s lap, joining Poppy in mine.
“But naked Christmas is the best Christmas,” he whined.
I raised my eyebrows at him. “But we have little ones around, so we just have to make do with naked Christmas night.”
Nate chuckled next to me. “It's worth it,” he muttered, planting a kiss on the top of my head.
I thought that they were going to be saying that when they got my Christmas gift.
“You look so pretty!” Jeremy cooed as Poppy twirled around, making her little pink tutu skirt fluff out.
The girls had descended on the pile of gifts like ravenous wolves, and their dads had only encouraged the chaos.
When they had opened the tiny pairs of skates from Jeremy, I had narrowed my eyes at him. “Do you really think that’s safe?” I asked. The girls were tiny, and could hardly stand up straight on land, let alone on ice.
“The younger they start, the better!” Jeremey beamed. “Don’t worry though, they won’t step foot on the ice without two adults per child watching them like a hawk. I’ll be there every step of the way—you can join if you want. I’d love to get you on the ice!”
I shook my head. “I am not coordinated enough to even try!” I giggled. When I first met Jeremy, there was no question of him even trying to get me on the ice. I was seven months pregnant and the size of a house. I was a hazard to myself, simply sitting on the couch. Then postpartum, I was far too busy with the babies to even think about it. Jeremy was retiring to spend time with the family and thoroughly enjoying being at home with the girls. Occasionally, he took on a construction job, but he was saving most of that work for when the girls were a bit bigger and in school. He wanted to soak up every moment with them, and I loved him even more than I thought possible for it.
So maybe one day I would brave the ice, but I didn’t see it happening anytime soon.
With a cup of spiked hot chocolate in hand, I sat back, watching as my babies had the time of their lives ripping open each gift and showing it to all the adults.
When I first fell pregnant, I had been all on my own, and when I had imagined what Christmas would be like for my baby—because as far as I was concerned I was only having a single baby at that point—I had dreaded it. Even then I’d wanted to give my hypothetical children everything, and I was alone, broke and terrified.
Now we were a family, and I trusted my guys completely. They made me excited to have another child because I knew I was never going to do it alone ever again.
In fact, postpartum with the girls had been a breeze. All I had to focus on was healing. I pumped so the guys often took the night shift, and getting a good night's sleep while I healed was a godsend.
“Okay! It’s time for your gift,” I said, grabbing the small box I had hidden at the back of the tree.
The girls were pulling apart their wrapping paper, more interested in that than their gifts.
Typical toddlers, adorable but maddening.
“You didn’t need to get us a gift sweetheart,” Nate said. “I would have been happy with a naked omega under the tree.”
I grimaced. “I am not doing that again. Too many pine leaves in unmentionable places.”
Devon smirked, lifting Poppy up and moving her away from the pile of papers into a less precarious spot. “If memory serves, that was a very enjoyable night.”
“Agreed,” Jeremy nodded.
“Just shut up and open your gift or I’ll take it back,” I growled, leaning forward to try to pluck the package from Nate’s hand. He moved quickly, lifting the parcel so it was out of reach.
“Hush, this is our gift and we intend to open it!” Nate declared, passing it to Jeremy who was out of my reach. He tore into the paper. I sat back on my heels, biting my lip. There was no question on if they would like the gift or not, but nerves still assaulted my stomach as he took the lid off the small gift box and looked inside.
“Are these…pills?” Jeremy asked, lifting the blister packet questioningly.
I nodded. “They are,” I confirmed.
“They’re birth control pills,” Devon said, leaning over and inspecting the packet in Jeremy’s hand.
“That’s an odd gift,” Nate said, pulling me into a hug from behind. “We know you’re on birth control. It’s why we take great joy in filling you up whenever we can,” he said as he nipped lightly at my neck, just above the bonding bite. My body warmed, and my scent grew thicker.
“I was on birth control,” I said.
Jeremy stilled; the packet half turned over in his hand. “What are you saying, Daisy?” he asked, his voice slow, a hint of hope infecting his words even though I knew he was doing his best to keep his tone neutral.
“I stopped taking them a few days ago. I’m ready to try for more babies,” I said. “According to the doctor, I should be fertile pretty quickly after I stop them… so it can happen any time now.”
All three of my guys were gawking at me, unable to find the words. Poppy and Petunia were blissfully unaware, toddling around their fathers, babbling and showing off their toys.
When Petunia started to tumble next to Devon, his hands shot out, and he easily righted her, all the while keeping his wide, shocked eyes firmly on me.
“I mean, if you don’t like it, I can always go back on birth control…” I trailed off.
“Fuck no!” Jeremy blurted out.
“Language!” I laughed, looking at the girls, thankful they were blissfully unaware of the naughty words being said in their presence.
“You’re fertile, like right now?” Devon asked, his voice cracking slightly.
I nodded again, and slowly all their faces broke out into grins.
“Dibbs!” Devon shouted, rushing towards me, grabbing me around the waist and hauling me up.
“Devon!” I laughed, batting at his hands. “It’s Christmas morning! We’ve got to get the girls’ breakfast and take photos in their outfits.”
Devon cursed under his breath, slowly putting me down.
“You lot are turning into a pair of potty mouths!” I giggled, looking between my guys, every one of them wearing a matching look of hunger.
“The moment the girls go down for their nap…” Jeremy said, picking up Poppy. “We are making you guys big sisters!” he declared happily.
“I look forward to it!” I giggled. “But first, let’s play with some of these toys!” I cooed at the girls, who stamped their feet in excitement.